ARCHIVE // MO // 1997
Macau
1997 Edition — special_admin
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
135,000 (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services domestic: NA international: HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
170,021 (1994 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
0 note: TV programs received from Hong Kong
Televisions
[time series]
34,000 (1992 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
rice, vegetables
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $305 million expenditures: $298 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Debt - external
[time series]
$0 (1996)
Economic aid
[time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry probably represents over 40% of GDP. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.
Electricity - capacity
[time series]
260,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita
[time series]
2,750 kWh (1995 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
1.2 billion kWh (1994)
Exchange rates
[time series]
patacas (P) per US$1 - 7.962 (1996), 8.034 (1993-95), 7.973 (1992); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of 1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Exports
[time series]
total value: $1.99 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles, clothing, toys partners: US 42%, Hong Kong 10%, Germany 9.9%, China 9.6%, France 8%, UK 7.2% (1995)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture : NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $13,600 (1996 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
4% (1996 est.)
Imports
[time series]
total value : $1.99 billion (c.i.f.,1996 est.) commodities: raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods partners: Hong Kong 33%, China 20%, Japan 18% (1992 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
(Inflation rate - consumer price index)
[time series]
5.5% (first half 1996)
Labor force
[time series]
total : 180,000 (1986) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate
[time series]
2% (1992 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total : 16 sq km land: 16 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Coastline
[time series]
40 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Coloane Alto 174 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
NA
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Ozone Layer Protection (extended from Portugal) signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
22 10 N, 113 33 E
Geography - note
[time series]
essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands to the peninsula on mainland
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 0.34 km border countries: China 0.34 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other : 100% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references
[time series]
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
[time series]
not specified
Natural hazards
[time series]
NA
Natural resources
[time series]
NEGL
Terrain
[time series]
generally flat
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Constitution
[time series]
17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by Beijing, promulgated 31 March 1993
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Macau local long form: none local short form : Ilha de Macau
Data code
[time series]
MC
Dependency status
[time series]
overseas territory of Portugal; note - scheduled to revert to China on 20 December 1999
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
none (Chinese territory under Portuguese administration)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President of Portugal Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Governor General Vasco Joachim Rocha VIERA (since 20 March 1991) cabinet: Consultative Council consists of a total of 15 members - five appointed by the governor, two nominated by the governor, five elected for a four-year term (two represent administrative bodies, one represents moral, cultural, and welfare interests, and two represent economic interests), and three statutory members elections: none; governor general appointed by the president of Portugal after consultation with the Legislative Assembly
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
the flag of Portugal is used
Government type
[time series]
NA
Independence
[time series]
none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition)
International organization participation
[time series]
CCC, ESCAP (associate), IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court, consisting of five magistrates including the president; lower court judges appointed for three-year terms by the governor
Legal system
[time series]
Portuguese civil law system
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral Legislative Assembly (23 seats; 8 elected by popular vote, 8 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the governor; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA
Capital
(National capital)
[time series]
Macau
National holiday
[time series]
Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Association to Defend the Interests of Macau, leader NA; Macau Democratic Center, leader NA; Group to Study the Development of Macau, leader NA; Macau Independent Group, leader NA
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy procommunist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over administration
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of Portugal
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
NA
Military manpower - availability
[time series]
males age 15-49: 144,117 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
[time series]
males : 79,819 (1997 est.)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 23% (male 60,270; female 56,803) 15-64 years: 68% (male 169,850; female 171,551) 65 years and over: 9% (male 18,208; female 25,643) (July 1997 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
13.78 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
4.41 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population : 80.05 years male: 77.57 years female : 82.65 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 93% female: 86% (1981 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Macanese (singular and plural) adjective: Macau
Net migration rate
[time series]
1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Population
[time series]
502,325 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
1.05% (1997 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2% (1981)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.53 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none MACEDONIA, Yugoslav Republic of]
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
1
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 97 km paved : 97 km (1995 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
none
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Macau
Railways
[time series]
0 km